Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Ever have one of those games that sits in your library, untouched for years, until something finally gives you the push to play it...and you end up kicking yourself for waiting so long? That's Heaven's Vault, and without our community Backlog Resolutions challenge, I would have missed out on one of the coolest games I think I've ever played. Listen in to find out why! Guest info: Rebekah Valentine (she/her) Read Reb's work on IGN https://www.ign.com/person/duckvalentine Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/duckvalentine.bsky.social Check out Nintendo Voice Chat https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nintendo-voice-chat/id276268457 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:22 Intros 5:05 Our Histories with Heaven's Vault and Language Learning 9:43 Opening Thoughts 14:30 Story Setup and Reactive Storytelling 29:37 Aliyah and Six 35:52 Language Learning 50:22 Visuals and Music 55:40 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations 58:13 Reb's Work at IGN 1:01:34 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous 1:03:35 Spoiler Section- What Happened in Our Playthroughs? 1:35:53 Spoiler Section- Language Discoveries 1:44:40 Spoiler Section- The Wildest Turn of Events 2:03:54 Spoiler Section- Ending Discussion Music used in the episode is credited to Laurence Chapman. Tracks used: An Ancient Language, The Desperate Ways, Before the Fall, The Nebula, Fantasia on One Good Moon, Heaven's Vault, An Ancient Language (Cello & Piano) Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Modern Pokémon games are divisive, but rarely due to technical performance. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (Game Freak, 2022) released in an embarrassing state, and are hoping for a comeback with their recent Switch 2 editions. So now that the bugs are squashed and the framerate is stable, what kind of game was lurking under all of those issues? Listen in to find out. Guest info: Kate Hunter (she/any) and Emily Merritt (she/her) Check out the No Small Games podcast and website https://nosmallgames.com/ Follow Kate on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/katerblossom.bsky.social Follow Emily on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/aspecificegg.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:16 Intros 5:53 Our Personal Histories with Pokémon 12:52 Opening Thoughts About Pokémon Scarlet & Violet 21:44 World and Story Setup 36:07 Nonlinear Design 42:50 Is the Story Actually Good, or Are We Grading On a Curve? 54:25 Visuals/Presentation 1:01:37 Open World Design 1:17:28 New Quick Battle System 1:22:28 Combat, Team Building and Challenge? 1:41:08 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations 1:47:16 No Small Games 1:54:07 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous 1:56:55 Spoiler Section- Our Teams, Area Zero, Ending 2:28:06 Spoiler Section- DLCs Music used in the episode: Title Screen (Junichi Masuda, Go Ichinose) Home (Junichi Masuda) Poco Path (Junichi Masuda) Battle! (Trainer Battle) (Junichi Masuda) Area Zero (GAME FREAK) Pokémon Center (Junichi Masuda) Welcome to the Paldea Region! (Minako Adachi, Toby Fox) Check out Dave on Geeks & Grounds in November and December- https://www.geeksandgrounds.com/ Check out Dave on the Character Issues podcast- https://www.buzzsprout.com/1306474 Check out Dave on Nostalgium Arcanum- https://nostalgiumarcanum.fireside.fm/ Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Pseudoregalia (Rittzler, 2023) represents a few things that are either making a resurgence or breaking out within indie games lately- retro PS1/N64 style graphics, megastructures, and 3D platformers. Combining incredibly tight and expressive platforming with nonlinear Metroidvania design and a vibey soundtrack, Pseudoregalia is a very good snack of a game, though not without some critical discussion points. Guest info: Beau aka Bo__Po (he/him) Check out Underplayed podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3qRQdjTtDRE1GZbFHhSYgu Follow Beau on Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/bo__po Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/bo-po.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:14 Introductions 5:02 Personal Histories with Pseudoregalia 11:21 Opening Thoughts 18:52 Story Setup 24:42 Movement and Creativity 38:10 Open-Ended Design 47:50 The Map and Getting Lost 58:01 Combat 1:04:41 Visual Aesthetic and Music 1:12:57 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations 1:20:00 UnderPlayed podcast and Beau on Twitch 1:26:11 Spoiler Wall & Patron Thank-Yous 1:27:51 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode: Remnants of the Dream (potatoTeto) Revival (potatoTeto) Their Subdued History (potatoTeto) Outside the Castle Walls (potatoTeto) Delirious Acting (potatoTeto) Paramnesiac (still crisp) Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Nobody is more skeptical of a new Soulslike on the block than me. Too often, Soulslikes build around the superficial qualities of FromSoftware's hits and neglect the secret sauce (or miss it entirely). Luckily for me and those who feel the same way, Round8 Studio and Neowiz knocked it out of the park with their Pinocchio-inspired Soulslike, Lies of P. I felt right at home playing through this, and it turned into a really fun conversation. Guest info: Rob Garcia (he/him) and Kelvin Rolon (he/him) Check out The Gaming Duo https://www.gamingduopod.com/ Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/thegamingduo.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:28 Intros 5:40 Personal Histories with Soulsborne and Lies of P 11:50 Personal Histories with Pinocchio 15:40 Opening Thoughts About Lies of P 19:20 Story Setup and Adapting Pinocchio 34:33 Visual Design 41:14 Music 49:09 Difficulty and How to Succeed 58:56 Weapons and Tools 1:18:17 Level Design and Exploration 1:28:21 Boss Fights 1:33:45 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations 1:38:14 The Gaming Duo Podcast 1:41:38 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous 1:43:38 Spoiler Section- Top 3 Boss Fights 2:05:26 Story Discussion 2:19:47 Backstory, Comparisons to the Book and Post-Credits Scene Music used in the episode is from the Lies of P OST. Tracks used: Main Menu (Round8 Studio Sound Team, YK Music) Divine Service (Electronic Boutique) Feel (DJ Mocha, Seo Ja Young) Dreadful March (Studio LAY-BACK) Judgement of Mourning (Studio LAY-BACK) Hotel Krat (Studio LAY-BACK) Quixotic (bermei.inazawa, foolen) Eventide Hotel (Silun Lee) Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson As I said way back in The Outer Wilds episode, I respect the hell out of that game and think it's a miracle, but I didn't love it as much as others, and I kind of wish I could Eternal Sunshine that game out of my mind and try again. But as it turns out, the Echoes of the Eye expansion gave me just that chance. Did lightning strike twice? Did the game that "you can only truly play once" work again? Listen in and find out. Guest info: Rick Firestone (he/him) Check out Pixel Project Radio https://linktr.ee/pixelprojectradio Follow Rick on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/pixelprojectradio.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:23 Introductions 6:08 Thoughts About Outer Wilds 9:11 Thoughts About Echoes of the Eye 24:14 Pixel Project Radio Podcast 26:42 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous 28:40 Spoiler Section- Initial Discoveries 48:05 Spoiler Section- A New World to Explore 1:24:00 Spoiler Section- Story Analysis and Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Andrew Prahlow. Tracks used: The River, River's End, Elegy for the Rings, Echoes of the Eye, Departure Check out Dave on Retro Hangover's King of Games '99 series: https://linktr.ee/retrohangover Check out Dave on The Tiny Game Chronicles: https://tinyurl.com/m5jhfat9 Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson Sometimes a game's reputation precedes it in a way that makes you question whether you want to play it at all, and Fear & Hunger (Miro Haverinen, 2018) certainly fits that bill. Punishing difficulty, harsh teaching, extreme content warnings and more put me off from playing the game for a while, but I'm glad to have played it now, and all of that made for a great conversation. Content warnings for Fear & Hunger: https://www.doesthedogdie.com/media/17804 Guest info: Adam Bucceri (he/him) Check out Adam's games https://boocherry.itch.io/ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:15 Intros 6:03 Our Histories with Fear & Hunger 9:55 Should We Play Fear & Hunger 1 or 2? 11:27 Opening Thoughts About Fear & Hunger 17:24 Content Warnings 26:15 Game Setup and Character Selection 31:15 Difficulty and Learning How to Play 44:55 Player-Hostile Design and Pressures 58:34 Immersive Sim Elements, Experimentation and Emergent Narrative 1:07:47 Combat 1:21:36 Visuals and Sound Design 1:27:20 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations 1:34:20 Adam's Games and Creative Works 1:37:18 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous 1:39:18 Spoiler Section- The Girl, Le'garde and Fun Discoveries 2:26:35 Spoiler Section- Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Miro Haverinen. Tracks used: Fear & Hunger, The Four Apostles, Pulse & Anxiety, Ancient City, Tomb of the Gods, Everyday Schoolday Check out Dave's guest appearance on The Pre-Order Bonus about Rain World- https://www.patreon.com/c/preordercast Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson It's been a real joy working my way through the Silent Hill series alongside doing this show, starting all the way back in episode 10(!) with Silent Hill 2. Today, I'm playing the sequel to Silent Hill 1, which is NOT Silent Hill 2...it's Silent Hill 3, and I've brought on the perfect guest to discuss what many fans to agree to be the last truly good Silent Hill game for many years. Guest info: Kaye Ross (she/her) Check out all of the wonderful Duckfeed podcasts https://duckfeed.tv/ Check out Kaye's horror game streams https://www.twitch.tv/duckfeedtv TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:28 Intros 4:56 Our Histories with Silent Hill 3 10:35 Opening Thoughts About Silent Hill 3 14:51 Story Setup 21:53 Aesthetics and Horror 30:25 Sound Design and Music 37:14 Heather As a Protagonist 43:37 Puzzles and Riddles 50:32 Tank Controls and Combat 1:03:49 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 1:06:36 The Many Podcasts at Duckfeed.tv 1:11:09 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-You's 1:13:11 Spoiler Section- Heather & The Cult 1:36:39 Spoiler Section- Heather & Harry Music used in the episode is credited to Akira Yamaoka. Tracks used: You're Not Here, End of Small Sanctuary, Breeze- In Monochrome Night, Something Long Forgotten, Sickness Unto Foolish Death, Hometown Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson This year, we're kicking off horror month with a first- a visual novel! It's the first one I've covered on the show, though I enjoy them from time to time, and Slay the Princess (Black Tabby Games, 2023) is certainly an interesting one. It's a choose your adventure visual novel with memorable visuals and a very interesting opening choice- you were sent here to slay the princess, so...do you? Listen in to find out how we felt about it! Guest info: Matt aka Stormageddon (they/them) Check out "Fun" and Games and Reignite podcasts https://linktr.ee/dj_stormagedddon Follow Matt on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/djstormageddon.com TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:22 Intros 4:33 Personal Histories with Slay the Princess and Visual Novels 8:21 Opening Thoughts About Slay the Princess 12:56 Story Setup and Choose Your Adventure Structure 27:53 Presentation 37:07 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations 41:40 "Fun" and Games, Reignite Podcasts 46:59 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous 48:39 Spoiler Section- Our Many Diverse Playthroughs 1:18:45 Spoiler Section- The Shifting Mound and Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Brandon Boone. Tracks used: The Princess, The World-Ender, Fragmentation, Reality Unwound, The Shifting Mound Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog

In this lively discussion, John Rogers, host of Gaming in the Wild and author of Lost in Cult's Ultros book, dives into the captivating world of Ultros, a vibrant Metroidvania game. They explore how stunning visuals and a rich soundscape elevate the gaming experience. John shares insights into the unique gameplay mechanics, including nutrient-based combat and a gardening system that enhances player engagement. They also contemplate Ultros’ potential to become a cult classic, reflecting on its emotional and narrative depth.

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server- https://discord.gg/kAqSBb6jH2 Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi- https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson There are more than enough sports games to go around out there, but the culture of sports does not begin and end on the field of play. There is an entire culture surrounding sports, and I've never played a game that tackles that culture quite like Despelote (Julián Cordero and Sebastián Valbuena, 2025) does. It also takes you back to a slice of childhood in a way that no other game can really claim- it's really something else. Tune in for the discussion! Guest info: Moises Taveras (he/him) Check out the Despelote review that Moises wrote https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/despelote-review-miraculous-slice-of-life-soccer-game-pulls-a-hat-trick/ Check out other writing by Moises on Endless Mode https://www.endlessmode.com/author/moises-taveras Follow Moises on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/platanoranger.bsky.social TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:16 Intros 4:11 Personal Histories with Despelote and Sports 15:21 Opening Thoughts About Despelote 20:01 Story Setup and Community Around Sports 38:14 Childhood and Visual Presentation 46:52 Taking You to a Time and Place and Sound Design 53:26 Gameplay 1:07:11 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 1:12:32 Moises' Writing and Where You Can Find It 1:15:06 SPOILER WALL and Patron Thank-Yous 1:16:27 Spoiler Section Music and game ambiance used in the episode is credited to Sebastián Valbuena Social Media: BlueSky- https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/ Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricaturesSupport Tales from the Backlog